Commission Chair Bell appointed to state juvenile justice task force

Published on July 23, 2021

Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell has been appointed to the newly created state Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform it was announced today by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Chair Bell (D-Detroit) was appointed to a two-year term on the 10-member task force, serving until July 2023.

"I look forward to working with other task force members to find ways to help young people by creating reforms that will help them find better paths to success," Chair Bell said.

Chair Bell is a board member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) and has long been active in criminal justice and juvenile justice issues. In recent years, she has advocated for cash bond reform and initiated the Stepping Up resolution which diverts people with mental illness and substance abuse from jails and into treatment.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Florida A&M University and a Master of Education degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Gov. Whitmer last month signed an executive order creating the task force. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist will serve as its chair.

Those also appointed to the task force include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit CEO Jeannine Grant, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, John Casteel, a founding member of the Western Wayne County Care Management Organization Juvenile Advisory Council, and Kimberly Thomas, director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School.

Commission Chair Bell appointed to state juvenile justice task force(PDF, 129KB)